Just when the world thought the Nazis were buried for good, it turns out they've just moved underground. That's the premise behind "Jonah Hex" comic book writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray's upcoming "Time Bomb" from Radical Publishing, which sees present-day peacekeeping forces pitted against Nazi machinations in two time periods.
In the present day, an international team of scientists and archeologists discover a secret Nazi city hidden beneath Berlin. Unfortunately, disrupting the site has activated Hitler's Omega bomb -- a weapon forged to wipe out the human race in the event that the Nazis lost the war. To reverse the bomb's effects, operatives outfitted with the latest weaponry are sent back in time to prevent the bomb's detonation, but something goes wrong and the team finds itself 65 years in the past -- forcing them to confront the Nazis at the height of their power.
Palmiotti and Gray's inspiration for the story stems from childhood summers spent viewing (and re-viewing), among other films, Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood's "Where Eagles Dare," which depicted Allied soldiers who went undercover to infiltrate a Nazi base.
"Years later, we had this idea that, because of something that happened in modern day, we sent a bunch of people back in time to fight Nazis, but they were fully loaded with what we have now, and with everything we know about World War II," Palmiotti explained.
With a WWII backdrop, a diverse cast and a clear good vs. evil mission, the premise seems ripe for adaptations in film and video games -- especially considering Palmiotti's own experience bridging the mediums by writing games such as "Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe."
"[Radical sees] the possibilities beyond the comic book format," Palmiotti said, "But at the end of the day, our job is to make this a killer comic book."
The book is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2010 release, though an artist hasn't been revealed for its interior pages. The cover art (seen below) was created by Meduzarts Studios. Expect more details on the project later this month at the San Diego Comic-Con International, when the "Time Bomb" team will be on hand at the Radical creators panel Friday, July 24, from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Is "Time Bomb" an explosion you can get behind, or are Nazis not your kind of antagonist? Take the time to share your thoughts in the comments.
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